Mitsubishi Lancers have always been associated with rally racing. When the new Mitsubishi Lancer GT 2.0 was introduced in Malaysia, it certainly looked its part as a rally machine. The GT version is fully imported from Japan. This is the second generation Lancer to be available in Malaysia and it is leaps and bounds better than the previous one.
Exterior & Design: The new Lancer is a totally new design from its predecessors. It appears bigger and meaner and cooler. The GT version comes with sports bodykits and also a spoiler which enhances its good looks. It comes with 18” alloy rims too. Overall it looks tough and aggressive.
Interior: The interior layout is simple and feels roomy and luxurious with Nappa leather as standard. However, some fitments are a little bit too plasticky. Sitting position is good and comfortable. It comes with an in-dash 6-disc CD changer which sounds quite powerful. A helpful Multi-Information LCD display is situated in between the tacho and speedometers. Probably the coolest part of the interior are the two Magnesium Paddle Shifters which are available only in the GT version. These paddle-shifters feels really superb to touch. The Lancer’s boot space is also very generous.
Engine: The new 2.0L MIVEC engine with INVECS-III CVT transmission feels very solid. With 155bhp and 199Nm of torque, the Lancer GT pulls away quickly from the traffic lights. The INVECS-III CVT transmission is smooth and very responsive. Semi-automatic shifting using the paddle shifts is quick.
The Drive: Driving the Lancer GT is fairly easy although it looks like a beast on the outside. But when the need arises the Lancer GT rises to the occasion and shows its rallying heritage. The power is sufficient and the car handles well on the limits. There is minimal bodyroll even when taking high speed corners. The Lancer feels stable even when cruising at speeds up to 180kph.
Conclusion: The Lancer GT’s tagline is “Fantastic Sports Machine”. In my opinion, this describes the Lancer GT very well. It is a macho and good looking car which drives beautifully. It is also solidly built. List price for the Lancer GT is RM123980 for a new car. Being a fully imported CBU car from Japan, the price is quite reasonable. And it is the closest thing enthusiasts can get to the Lancer Evolution X which costs RM200000 more! The latest 2009 version of the Mitsubishi Lancer has just recently been released featuring minor facelifts to the front grille, bumper and rear light clusters. The overall design appears smoother and less angled.http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my/showroom-lancer-overview.php
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Rivals: Honda Civic 2.0, Peugeot 308, Toyota Corolla Altis, Ford Focus, Mazda 3
Special Thanks: My buddy Hari for allowing a test-drive of his Hellblazer Lancer GT
Did you know transponders at traffic stops don't respond to high speed? The Fast Lane prank tests the limits of speed and traffic rules.
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